Fireman&#39;s protective dress.



' PATENTED JAN 30,1906.

C. W. WOOD.

FIREMANS PROTECTIVE DRESS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17, 1905.

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STAT YES PATEN T CHARLES W. WOOD, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

FIREIVIANS PROTECTIVE DRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Application filed April 17, 1905. Serial No. 256,096.

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. WOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and use- .ful Improvements in Firemens Protective Dress; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in firemens protective dress; and the object of my invention is to provide a protective dress whereby a fireman may enter a room or confined space where the heat is great and where poisonous gases occur and be supplied with cooled air and have water showered over him to protect him from the heat.

My invention is especially designed for the use of firemen who enter the holds of vessels in which a fire has broken out.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my complete apparatus, showing the same in use. Fig.2 is a side elevation of a portion of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, of one of the details. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the water-distributing cap.

In carrying my invention into eifect I make use of the ordinary rubber clothing and copper helmet employed by submarine divers. Over the helmet is placed a cap, to which water is supplied, which water trickles down over the helmet and dress, keeping the fireman cool. Fresh air is supplied to the interior of the helmet in the usual Way, but provision is made for cooling the air supplied thereto so that the fireman may work in a room or place where the temperature is high.

Referring to the drawings, (t represents the ordinary rubber clothing, and b the ordinary helmet, such as used by submarine divers and provided with windows 0, protected by gratings d. Above the helmet is fixed a downwardly-projecting cap e,held in position above the helmet by means of wires f entering clips 9.

it represents a water-pipe connected to the Water-pipe 2', which is used for cooling the fireman. This pipe delivers directly into the cap 6, whereby water is allowed to trickle down over the helmet and over the firemans clothes, thus keeping him cool.

j represents the pipe for supplying air, which is preferably contained within the water-pipe i, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

12 represents a coupling used at the point where the pipes j and 72. separate.

The pipe j is connected with an air-compressor Z of any ordinary or approved type, and the pipe '5 is connected with a hand or power pump by means of the coupling m, whereby a stream of cold water is continually forced down over the fireman.

' n represents the ordinary signal-line.

0 represents a hose attached to a force-pump, and the fireman directs the stream from the pipe 0 upon the fire. 7

It will be seen that the water-hose and the water protect the air-hose from the possibility of damage by fire or other causes. The envelop of cold water surrounding the air-hose keeps the air which is pumped down to the fireman cooled, and therefore permits the ireman to work a longer time without discomfort or sickness due to overheated air. It avoids the handling of two distinct sets of hose, one for airand one for water, which are cumbersome and more likely to become fouled than the single hose. Instead of using a hose the fireman may, of course, use grapples for removing burning material-such, for example, bales of cotton.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

In a iiremans protective dress, the combination of waterproof clothing, a helmet, a cap over said helmet, a water-pipe connected to said cap, an air-pipe connected to said helmet, and a union joint, said air-pipe being contained within said water-pipe except at or near the point where it enters said helmet, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES l/V. W'OOD.

Witnesses:

Geo. H. WASSON, H. R. KENISON. 

